Reuters reports that Macy’s, the department store chain, plans to hire about 4,000 full-time employees this year, roughly the same number as last year.
CHICAGO – Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that PNC Bank, a unit of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC), will continue to expand in Chicago, creating more than 200 new jobs in Chicago by the end of 2013 and opening more than three new branches in the city.
“Helping Chicagoans find stable and consistent employment is central to everything we’re doing in the city, and these 200 professional jobs will provide opportunity for Chicagoans from all backgrounds and from many neighborhoods,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Access to banking options is also critical, and these jobs will provide this access for our residents while employing hundreds of Chicagoans.”
The new positions will be located at the bank’s branches and PNC Centre, its regional headquarters located at One North Franklin in Chicago.
“Chicago is a vibrant city with a strong economy and a major growth market for PNC,” said Joseph Gregoire, regional president for PNC Bank in Chicagoland. “We are expanding in all of our lines of business, adding to our team of the best bankers in Chicagoland.”
PNC plans to open three additional branches in the city by the end of next year. This follows six new branch openings in Chicago last year, including the most recently opened locations at:
307 N. Michigan Avenue
4201 N. Lincoln Ave. (Lincoln and Berteau)
4400 N. Broadway Ave. (Uptown)
PNC Bank is the area’s fifth largest bank. It operates 158 branches and 200 ATMs, and will have 41 branches in the city by the end of 2013. Today’s is the 21st jobs-expansion announcement Mayor Emanuel has made since taking office, totaling more than 13,000 positions. Chicagoans can apply for these jobs and other jobs with PNC at www.pnc.com/careers.
Wilmington, DE – Bank of America committed to adding more than 500 jobs over the next three years to its Delaware workforce, Governor Jack Markell announced today.
“Bank of America’s commitment to add hundreds of jobs here is a strong endorsement of both the quality of our workforce and our State’s commitment to the middle-class careers this industry supports,” Markell said. “This industry has been one of the foundations of our state’s economy for many years. We have people with the experience and energy to help these companies succeed. Looking forward, Bank of America sees a future that includes more Delawareans working to make them successful.”
Source: http://news.delaware.gov/
| Friday, February 17, 2012 |
Global manufacturer announces it will locate U.S. factory in Clarke and Oconee counties
Gov. Nathan Deal and Doug Oberhelman, Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc., announced today at the Capitol that Caterpillar will locate a new manufacturing facility in Clarke and Oconee counties. The new facility will be part of Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products Division (BCP), and when fully operational will have about 1,400 employees and a total investment in Georgia of $200 million.
“This is an extraordinary day for our entire state, and a game-changer for Clarke, Oconee and surrounding counties throughout northeast Georgia,” said Deal. “The excitement and promise of today’s announcement are why we’re fighting so hard to make Georgia the No. 1 place in the nation to do business. Caterpillar will find a happy home here, and our state’s logistics, workforce, speed and efficiency will give the company an edge in the global marketplace. We appreciate Caterpillar’s confidence in Georgia’s workforce and continued investment in our state through this new BCP operation.”
Caterpillar will locate its new one-million-square-foot facility on more than 250 acres of a prominent industrial site, commonly known as the “Orkin Site,” that spans Clarke and Oconee counties.
“I am thrilled to be in Georgia today to announce that this site near Athens will be the location of Caterpillar’s newest production facility in the United States,” said Oberhelman.
“Our objective with this new facility is simple — to better serve the large base of customers who use the machines we will make at this new factory,” said BCP Vice President Mary Bell. “The Athens site was selected from among dozens of locations considered due to its proximity to major ports, a strong regional base of potential suppliers, a positive and pro-active business climate and a good pool of potential employees with manufacturing experience,” Bell added.
The new facility in Georgia will become Caterpillar’s global source for small track-type tractors and for mini hydraulic excavators. The new facility will provide completed machines for customers in North and South America. In addition, the company also plans to export partially assembled mini excavator base units to a facility in Europe, where final assembly will take place, improving delivery times for European customers.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., – Feb. 10, 2012 – (NYSE:GE) – GE Appliances today announced the opening of its GeoSpring™ Hybrid Water Heater manufacturing facility at Appliance Park in Louisville, Ky. – the first to open there since 1957. The $38 million investment in the new product and a revitalized facility is the first milestone in commitments GE has made since 2009 to invest a total of $1 billion ($800 million in Louisville) and create more than 1,300 new jobs in the U.S. by 2014. The new product and other recent investments at Appliance Park has also created hundreds of highly skilled salaried jobs in fields like engineering, industrial design and manufacturing.
“The journey we started in 2009 to get to this day has been an inspirational one,” said GE Appliances President and CEO Charles “Chip” Blankenship. “To reverse decades of outsourcing by bringing new, industry-leading products and jobs back to the U.S. takes tremendous cooperation, imagination, courage and plain hard work by a lot of people. I want to thank our local union, our employees, government and company officials for having and executing a vision that is bringing these jobs to Appliance Park and creating a bright future for our business.”
Lean manufacturing and a more competitive wage structure for new employees led to the selection of Louisville as the production site for the new water heater instead of China, where an earlier version of the product was made. Not only can the new product now be made more competitively in the U.S., the GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater, developed by the Louisville team, has an enhanced feature set, offers better performance with greater energy savings and will be more affordable for consumers.
The GeoSpring has the distinction of being the first GE Appliances product designed and built using Lean manufacturing principles. The Lean process, which uses a cross-functional team of employees – including hourly manufacturing workers – to design the product and the manufacturing process, will help increase the competitiveness of the operation by identifying and removing waste in materials and work effort often found in traditional manufacturing.
State and local governments also supported putting the new GeoSpring in Louisville with up to $17 million in incentives to design and build the new energy-efficient facility and other investments that the company will make at Appliance Park during the next several years.
MAITLAND, Fla., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Digital Risk, the nation’s leading and largest risk management and compliance solutions provider, today announced plans to add more than 1,000 full-time US-based, professional, positions in 2012. Positions will include experienced underwriters, attorneys, processors, compliance experts and appraisers. By year-end 2012, the company will nearly double its headcount to 2,300. The company will reach maximum capacity at its Orlando and Jacksonville offices this spring and plans to establish several new facilities across the country to handle the anticipated growth. The growth is being driven by housing market dynamics and the regulatory environment.
“We have earned the trust of many of the nation’s largest lenders, servicers and investors, and as the mortgage industry recovers, they are seeking our assistance in developing higher quality new loan portfolios,” said Peter Kassabov, CEO of Digital Risk. “We currently conduct a rigorous analysis on over $8 billion in performing and non-performing loans each month which we expect to double by year end due to significant demand for our component servicing, underwriting and compliance solutions.”
The company’s growth is driven by several factors including:
Expansion of the company’s business model into the management of transactions on behalf of originators, investors and, in particular, with servicers
The recent addition of a new foreclosure suite of solutions, including attorney compliance reviews
Increased demand for the company’s pre- and post-funding compliance services
The need to achieve balance between automated underwriting and skilled human judgment
Compliance and risk management now dominate every aspect of the mortgage business
“We are using our default analytics to preemptively identify at-risk borrowers so loan modification efforts can begin earlier, keeping more people in their homes. We estimate that these analytics will trigger an incremental 300,000 loan modifications over the coming year. With that in mind, we will open offices in locations with high concentrations of the qualified and experienced attorneys, underwriters, processors and compliance professionals required to maintain the balance of automation and skilled human judgment to serve the mortgage finance markets of today and tomorrow,” continued Kassabov.
As the company reaches maximum capacity at both its Orlando and Jacksonville facilities, it will either expand existing operations in Texas, Colorado or California, or open new facilities in Florida as soon as March. Skilled mortgage professionals with exceptional underwriting, processing and compliance qualifications are encouraged to submit their resumes to jobs@digitalrisk.com.
Digital Risk, LLC is the leading provider of mortgage risk and compliance management solutions. The company provides buyers and sellers of mortgages and mortgage backed securities the analytical, technological and risk management services they need to achieve their goals. The Digital Risk platform delivers transparency at the loan level and precise risk assessment throughout the entire mortgage value chain. With over 1,300 professionals, and soon to be 2,300, the Company is privileged to serve the nation’s leading servicers, originators, aggregators and investors. Digital Risk is independent and not affiliated with an originator, issuer, servicer or investor. Headquartered in Orlando, Digital Risk has additional operations in New York, Dallas, Denver, and Jacksonville.
2/15/2012
RALEIGH - Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that Reed Elsevier Inc., a world leading provider of professional information solutions, will expand its operations in Cary. The company plans to create 350 jobs over the next five years and invest $1.75 million. The project was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant.
HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Governor Tom Corbett announced today that Aggressive Grinding Services in Latrobe, Westmoreland County will create 60 new jobs to help meet increased demand for its services.
“My administration is committed to creating a business climate in Pennsylvania that supports companies like Aggressive Grinding and the jobs they create,” Corbett said. “This company is a Pennsylvania-grown, family-owned business that has built itself from the ground up and is continuing to expand and create jobs. This project will undoubtedly have a positive economic impact on the region and the state.”
The family-owned company will construct an 11,000-square-foot addition to its existing building to increase manufacturing capacity to keep up with rising customer demand. The project will create at least 60 jobs within three years, and retain its existing 74 employees.
Aggressive Grinding Services received a $1.67 million funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), including a $1 million loan from the Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund, $525,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, $27,000 in job training assistance, $60,000 in job creation tax credits and a $60,000 Pennsylvania First grant.
“Support provided by the commonwealth was a very important part of our expansion project,” Aggressive Grinding President & CEO Lester Sutton said. “The funds provided by DCED and the Governor’s Action Team will help to ensure that our company is competitive in the global market place by assisting us to invest in the latest, most innovative equipment, train our employees and expand our facility. We would like to thank Governor Corbett and the Governor’s Action Team for their support of our project.”
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, or GAT, a group of economic development professionals who work directly with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania. The Governor’s Action Team worked with the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland, a private, non-profit economic development agency, to assist Aggressive Grinding’s efforts to expand.
“State support for these types of projects is crucial for Pennsylvania’s continued economic vitality,” said John Skiavo, president & CEO of the Economic Growth Connection. “Manufacturing companies not only supply a true living wage for our residents, but also create a greater economic impact than other industries because of the supply chain that they require. Through the leadership of Governor Corbett and DCED Secretary C. Alan Walker, Pennsylvania is leading this economic recovery thanks to projects like this.”
Founded in 1988, Aggressive Grinding Services specializes in precision grinding of super-hard materials such as carbide, alloy metals and ceramics, that are used in the aerospace, oil and gas, automotive and machine tool industries. Due to an increase in customer orders and product demand the company is expanding into the ceramics industry.
For more information on Aggressive Grinding Services, visit www.ags-fast.com .
For more information on the Governor’s Action Team and other economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
WILMINGTON, Del. (Feb. 10, 2012) – Citi Cards today celebrated the grand opening of its new office at the Brandywine Building in Wilmington. The new location, at the center of Wilmington, will include employees from Citi Branded Cards and Citi Retail Services.
The grand opening was attended by Delaware Governor Jack Markell; U.S. Senator Tom Carper; U.S. Senator Chris Coons; Delaware Economic Development Office Director Alan Levin; Wilmington Mayor James Baker; Citi Cards Chief Executive Officer Jud Linville; Citi Cards Chief Operating Officer and Brandywine Site President Ed Garofalo; and Citi Managing Director of Governance and External Affairs, Global Consumer Banking John Carey. In addition, several other state officials and community members, as well as Citi employees from the new Brandywine facility, joined the celebration.
“Citi could have expanded elsewhere, but, it chose Delaware – a credit to our responsive approach, active business community and dedicated workforce,” said Governor Markell. “The new jobs will be filled from a pool of talented, skilled professionals in our financial services industry.”
Currently 145 people work at the Brandywine site, and Citi has a goal of 260 employees at the facility by the end of 2012.
In July 2011, the Delaware Economic Development Office awarded Citi a $3 million grant from the Delaware Strategic Fund to support the expansion, of which $2.5 million will help create new jobs at the site. The fund also contributes to the company’s infrastructure investment, equal to three percent of the total capital expenditures, or a maximum of $500,000.
“The state’s investment in Citi’s expansion will contribute to the growth of our financial services industry,” said Director Levin. “It will create jobs that are critical to our state and for the families that live here.”
Citi currently employs approximately 1,800 employees across New Castle County and has maintained a presence in Delaware since 1982. Between 2007 and 2010, Citi has provided nearly $19.4 million in Community Development loans and nearly $43.4 million in Community Development Investments; and has made grants totaling $2 million to non‐profit organizations in Delaware for affordable housing development, foreclosure prevention counseling, financial education, and college access for low‐income students.
“We’re pleased to be building upon our Delaware roots, having opened our first facility here 30 years ago,” said Ed Garofalo, Citi Cards COO and Brandywine Site president. “We look forward to strengthening our local presence and partnership by continuing to invest in the community and our people.”
The city of Wilmington awarded Citi $390,000 in low‐interest loans that will convert into a grant if the company employs 155 people through 2016. Citi will also receive a 5‐year exemption from the city’s head tax, a $15 monthly tax on each employee. Any business that moves into Wilmington with 50 or more jobs is eligible for the head‐tax exemption.
“Wilmington, which is our State’s center of commerce, is proud of its partnership with the State in supporting new and expanding businesses,” said Mayor Baker. “When businesses look to Wilmington, they see a welcoming environment that is not just appealing to its investors, but also to its employees. By investing in companies like Citi, Wilmington is insuring its continued growth and prosperity by helping to create new jobs and attract new residents. It is good to have Citi as part of our community.”
Citi employees have a long tradition of embracing the communities where we live and work. In 2011, Citi employees provided more than 9,000 volunteer service hours in Delaware in support of programs such as Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, and the Delaware Money School. Citi employees also provide community leadership by serving on Boards of Directors of local nonprofits, such as the Delaware Community Investment Corporation, First State Community Loan Fund, and the Delaware Financial Literacy Institute, to mention a few.
Source: Delaware Economic Development Office
MIDDLETOWN, Del. (Feb. 14, 2012) – Amazon.com, Inc. today announced plans to invest $90 million to open a new 1 million‐square‐foot fulfillment center in Middletown. The plan was finalized late Friday after the company’s real estate developer settled on the land, located on Classic Drive near Levels Road. Amazon will create more than 850 full‐time jobs at the new center.
“We welcome Amazon’s expansion in Delaware, which will mean a significant number of jobs for many skilled and talented Delawareans who want to get to work,” said Governor Jack Markell. “The company’s expansion is a credit to the hard work taking place throughout the state to attract top‐notch employers.”
The Middletown facility will be Amazon’s second fulfillment center in Delaware. Amazon opened its first fulfillment center on the East Coast in New Castle in 1997. The company currently employs hundreds of full‐time workers at the 200,000 square‐foot facility.
“We look forward to opening our second facility in Delaware this year, creating more than 850 new jobs in the state,” said Dave Clark, vice president, global customer fulfillment. “We’re grateful to state, county and local leaders who have committed to Amazon jobs and investment.”
In December, the Delaware Economic Development Office awarded the company $3.47 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund to support the expansion. Of which, $2.12 million will help create new jobs at the site. As part of the agreement, jobs at the new center will be in addition to the existing Delaware employment. The fund will also contribute to the company’s infrastructure investment, equal to 3 percent of the total capital expenditures, or a maximum of $1.35 million.
A separate grant for up to $4 million from the Delaware New Jobs Infrastructure Fund will be used to build extensions of public roads to serve the project, improve traffic flow and provide access to additional properties for future economic development.
The Infrastructure Fund was established in the fiscal year 2012 Bond Bill to provide economic assistance for renovation, construction or improvements to roads, utilities and related infrastructure in order to attract new businesses to Delaware, or for the expansion of existing Delaware businesses that would create a significant number of direct, permanent, quality, full‐time jobs.
“Fourteen years ago, Amazon chose Delaware for its first East Coast fulfillment center,” said Levin. “The advantages of our quality workforce and strategic location still hold true today. The company’s expansion in Delaware is a testament to that fact, and a result of a positive, collaborative effort between the state and the town of Middletown.
Amazon will also receive a real estate tax abatement from the town of Middletown for the next 10 years. “We are truly excited Amazon has selected Middletown as its new home,” said Middletown Mayor Kenneth Branner. “This project is a win‐win all around, for the town of Middletown and the state of Delaware. The new jobs would be a jump start to our economy and bring additional employment growth to our area.”
Amazon’s new facility is expected to be complete this fall. Amazon’s fulfillment centers in Delaware are operated by Amazon.com.dedc, LLC.